{
  "abstract": "Aims\n\nDysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis has been proposed as a mechanism in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Tactile massage is suggested to influence long-term cortisol secretion in adolescents with ADHD, although it remains unclear whether such an effect occurs. This study examined whether tactile massage alters hair cortisol in adolescents with ADHD.Methods\n\nFourteen adolescents aged 15-17 with ADHD received 10 weekly 60-min standardised tactile massage sessions. Hair samples were collected at five time points and analysed for cortisol using a competitive radioimmunoassay. Perceived stress (the Stress in Children questionnaire), heart rate and blood pressure were assessed. Non-parametric statistics (Friedman's ANOVA, Wilcoxon matched-pairs tests and Spearman's correlation) evaluated time-dependent changes and associations.Results\n\nHair cortisol showed no significant differences between baseline, intervention and follow-up (p = 0.63). After six sessions, boys had higher cortisol levels than girls (p = 0.029). No significant correlations emerged between hair cortisol and heart rate, blood pressure or total stress, although a negative correlation was found with frustration (p = 0.028).Conclusions\n\nBecause the intervention did not alter long-term cortisol output, and hair cortisol shows limited sensitivity to short-term effects, it does not appear suitable for detecting tactile-massage effects in adolescents with ADHD.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Sahlgrenska Academy Institution for Clinical Science University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden gu.se.",
    "Department of Paediatrics Skaraborg Hospital Skövde Sweden.",
    "Department of Research and Development Skaraborg-Hospital Group Skövde Sweden.",
    "Institute of Health and Care Sciences Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden gu.se.",
    "Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic NU Hospital Group Trollhättan Sweden.",
    "Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC) Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden gu.se.",
    "Queen Silvia Children's Hospital Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg Sweden sahlgrenska.se."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Carl-Johan Törnhage",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8878-2147"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Anna-Carin Robertz",
      "orcid": "0009-0009-1783-1285"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Anne-Katrin Kantzer",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3960-6398"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        5,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Stefan Nilsson",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8847-9559"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0jj2cz8q7f765.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1155/ijpe/5891199",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13685493",
  "id": "0jj2cz8q7f765",
  "issns": [
    "1687-9740",
    "1687-9759"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909885",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2738|Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223114299",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13685493?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13685493",
  "pmid": "42909885",
  "published": "2026-10-21",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0jj2cz8q7f765.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:10Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42909885",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909885"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2738|Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Methodological Considerations for Using Hair Cortisol as a Biomarker Following No Measurable Effects of Tactile Massage in Adolescents With ADHD.",
  "title_text": "Methodological Considerations for Using Hair Cortisol as a Biomarker Following No Measurable Effects of Tactile Massage in Adolescents With ADHD.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:10Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0jj2cz8q7f765",
  "venue": "International journal of pediatrics",
  "versions": []
}